Edward h



(No Model.)

B. H. M BRIDE. ELECTRODE FOR MEDIGINAL PURPOSES.

No. 484,522. Patented 001). 18 1892.

Q WQFFQ i UNITED STATES EDWARD H. MCBRIDE, on

PATENT OFFI E.

ELECTRODE FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,522, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed July 21, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. MCBRIDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Green and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrodes forMedicinal Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electrodes of that class designed for the application of electricity for medicinal purposes; and it has for its object to provide a simple and efficient device of this class for driving or forcing medicaments beneath the skin by means of the cataphoric action of the positive pole of a galvanic or continuous electric current, thereby treating diseases by the combined action of the medicament and galvanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrode for the above-described purposes which will possess advantages in point of inexpensiveness and durability in construction, ease of operation, and general efflciency.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrode embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 00 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a similar view on the line y y, Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a casing, which is preferably cylindrical in form and constructed of hard rubber or other nonconducting material. This casing consists of a base a and a handle portion a. The base a is provided at its outer end with an annular flange B, forming a recess b. Throughout its length the casing is provided with a central bore 0, the latter being at the end of the casing, having the base a of angular form, as shown at c, and of circular form throughout the remainder of itslength.

D designates a disk constructed of aluminum, and is normally seated in the recess b and located below the outer edge of the flange. The disk D carries a stem d, constructed of any suitable conducting material and prefer- Serial No. 440,734. (No model.)

inner end of the stem dprojects acylindrical rod E of any suitable or preferred metal, and provided at its distal end with screw-threads e and with a small bore (2, within which is adapted to be secured the usual tip affixed to the end of battery-wires. The portion of the bore 0 adjacent to the threaded end of the rod E is enlarged, as at c, and within said enlargement is secured a metallicbushing F. A nut G is provided with a stem g, which fits Within the bushing. The stem has an annular groove g, which is engaged by the inner tapered end of a screw H, passed through one side of the handle portion of the casing 0. By this means the nut may be freely turned,but is locked against longitudinal displacement. The nut is further provided with a milled head 9 by means of which it is operated. In practice the nut engages the threaded end of. the rod E, and thus by turning the nut in one direction or the other the disk D is moved up or down within the casing, as described.

Between the flange B and the disk D is intel-posed a soft rubber washer I, which serves to prevent evaporation of the medicine through the bore 0, and also to permit of expansion of the disk when heated, and thus prevent breakage of the flange B. The main office of the washer I is to retain all moisture and prevent it from coming in contact with the flange B, thereby causing all the electrical current to pass from the disk to the skin of the patient direct. It may be noted that the latter result is an important desideratum, for the reason that should the current pass to the flange B by the aid of moisture, and from thence to the skin, the current would pass free of the medicine, and the latter would not be driven through the skin by the cataphoric action of the galvanic current.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. In practice cotton or other absorbent material is placed upon the disk D Within the recess formed by the flange. The absorbent is then saturated with the desired medicine and the electrode placed in contact with the skin of the patient, the electrode being in electrical con nection with a suitable battery. By constructing the disk D of aluminum said parts will not corrode or be aifected by acids or other substances.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electrode, the combination, with a non-conducting casing provided at one end w th a recess, of an electrical conducting-disk disposed in said recess and below the outer portion thereof, whereby a receptacle is provided for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electrode, the combination, with a non-conducting easing provided at one end with an annular flange, of an electrical conducting-disk carried by said casing and located below said flange, and a soft-rubber washer interposed between said flange and disk and projecting beyond the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electrode, the combination, with a non-conducting casing provided at one end with an annular flange, of an electrical conducting-disk disposed in the recess formed by said flange and means for adjusting the disk longitudinally with relation to the casing, substantially as .set forth.

4. In an electrode, the combination, with a -non-conducting casing provided at one end the recess formed by said flange and carrying a metallic rod passing through the bore, said rod being screw-threaded at its distal end, and, a revoluble nut carried at the end of the casing opposite the flange and adapted to receive the threaded end of the rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electrode, the combination, with a non-conducting casing provided at one end with an annular flange and with a central longitudinal bore having its end adjacent to said flange formed angular and its opposite end enlarged and carrying a metallic bushing, of a metallic disk disposed in the recess formed by the flange and provided with an angular 1 EDWARD H. MCBRIDE.

Witnesses:

J AS. W. SILsBY, ED. CoWELL. 

